I don't know if great BA flight crew is like the proverbial bus, or if the season of good will has broken out, but pax on BA296 had a very similar experience last week.
During a 4 hour delay back from Chicago Thursday evening, the Captain, FO and CSM came into the lions den (BA lounge) and explained the problem; mechanics were trying to fix it in freezing conditions; it wasn't possible to predict how long it would take; we had a few hours of time left; and, no, there weren't any other flights. Oh, and if it couldn't be fixed tonight it would be a 24 hour delay and snow was coming. Yikes!
They then bravely hung around to answer all the inevitable questions. The impact was instant and amazing - atmosphere went from anger & frustration to 'Dunkirk spirit'.
This may sound odd, but this incident reminded me why I originally chose BA as my preferred carrier all those years ago - amazing flight crew.